Babysitting Rates...

marleylikeair

Hey gals!

I've been asked to babysit for my boss's kids, and I'm wondering if anyone can help me figure out what to charge. I'm used to babysitting in NYC, where the going rate is around $15/hr. I know I can't charge that in Minnesota! (Well, maybe close to that if I were in Minneapolis.) I also know that I should be asking for more than your average high school kid, since I'm 27, have a college degree, lots of years of experience, and CPR certification.

So...what do people charge in your area? Any ideas for me? Craigslist and other internet searches are not helping me at all.

bethsmiles

It depends. Are you doing this during the day, like a nanny job that is more than once? Or is it one night when they go out? It also depends on how many kids it is.

ETA: And how old they are.

elannis

Don't know if this helps or not, but this is what I found with google. 

Full-time babysitting jobs will usually equate to greater pay than part-time ones. Taking all of these factors into consideration, the average hourly pay for babysitters is about $10. The lower end may earn anywhere between $5 and $9 per hour, whereas the higher end could reach to $15 per hour. Overnight babysitting usually draws on hourly pay during waking hours and a flat fee (generally ranging from $25-$50) once the children are sleeping. Full days or weekends also tend to be based on flat fees, bringing in anywhere from $75 to $125 per day depending on the factors listed previously.

SKP82

It definitely depends.  Can you share how much you make hourly at your job?  Is he requesting that you, specifically, babysit or did you offer?  If he specifically requested that you do it, I would think you could charge what you make at your job. 

I used to "babysit" every day for a middle schooler and a high schooler.  All I had to do was pick the middle schooler up from school and help her with her homework.  I was only there for about 2 hours a day and they paid me $100/week.  They would sometimes go out of town for the weekend and would pay me $250 to stay with the kids.  I was also in college at the time.

I would have charged $12 - $15 an hour after I got out of college to babysit. 

loves2shop4shoes

An absolute MINIMUM rule of thumb is $10/hour per child.  And since your not a metal mouthed teenager, I'd charge somewhere in the $15/hour/child ballpark.

marleylikeair

Okay, let's see...

I offered awhile back, like a month ago, and boss did know before that that I had done a lot of sitting in NYC. He's just now reintroducing the subject.

This is the boss at my temp job. I get $10/hr there (although I happen to know the company pays my temp agency $15/hr to pay me the $10).

It's two girls. I don't know exactly their ages, but I saw them briefly today and I'm guessing 2 and 4 (maybe 3 and 5?).

It would be occasional sitting, a few hours on random weekends.

BF thinks I should ask for $12 and see what happens, negotiation-wise. I really would like to not do it for less than $10, but $11 or $12 would be nice.

I used to get about $15/hr in NYC.

SKP--Do you mind my asking where and when your example took place?

Shoes--I think your estimates might be a little high, but in the Boston area, they make more sense.

polkadot111

Oooo ooo! I'm in MN!!

I babysit quite a bit, and I normally charge about 10/hr. This seems to be about the average around here. Some people pay a bit less (like 8) and some people pay more (15 is the TOP I've every been paid). But I think normally when I babysit I expect to get 10. (And that's in the suburbs of Minneapolis)

marleylikeair

Hope--thanks, your MN perspective really helps!

I'm thinking of replying to boss's text with info about availability, followed by something like:

"As for rate, I would like $12/hr but am willing to discuss if you feel that's on the high side."

My reasoning is that I'm well worth $12/hr with my experience, age, college degree, and CPR certification (which includes child and infant CPR). I'm also reasoning that if I ask for $12, I might get it, and might not, and if I don't, I'll get $11 or $10, which would be okay.

What do you all think? I definitely don't want to seem grabby by asking for $12/hr.

polkadot111

I think 12 is fine! He can always say it's too much.

heyimbren

I agree with Hope. Anywhere from $10-15 is fairly common around here and I'm not exactly in a big city. It can be lower, but I'd say that's the average.

Either way, it can't hurt to try (especially if you're willing to go lower if they're not).

marleylikeair

Thanks for the input, gals! I went ahead and threw $12 out there. We'll see what comes back.

SeaTea02

I got paid $10/hr as a high schooler... so I would say $12-15 is perfectly fair especially if you are expected to cook, clean up, or drive them around. I would ask for gas compensation too. Quality child care at a day care facility far exceeds $10 an hour and with your services provide personal attention  

alanna91

I babysit now and then and I always have them chose my salary...I know I"ll never run my own business but that way I feel they're more apt to hire me back, and they have.

In my three experiences of this I've never been taken advantage of. I'd say it's always been between $10-$12/hr and that also seems to be the consensus here.

I think I got around $8/hr in highschool, but I wouldn't recommend you ever ever asking that low of an amount, it's minimum wage here in MA.

ADTonk

I think it depends on the age of the children and how many children.  People around my way usually charge between $10-$15/hr.  You can get more for babies, special needs children, etc.

SKP82

Marley - It was in SC about 4 years ago.

Honestly, people will pay what you want if they feel comfortable with you and trust you with their kids.